After cleansing a puncture wound, what is commonly done?

• A. Apply heat to speed healing.
• B. Massage the area.
• C. Irrigate the wound.
• D. Apply a bandage to prevent further infection.

Answer: (D)

After cleansing a puncture wound, applying a sterile bandage is the standard next step. Covering the wound protects it from dirt and germs, helps keep it clean, and supports a proper healing environment by reducing the chance of reinfection. Heat can irritate tissue and increase swelling, massage can push bacteria deeper into the wound, and irrigation is typically done during the cleansing process, not as a separate step after cleansing.